You have a lot of time!!!
- If you have not already, you should look at the 'Start Young' section on the USMA website:
http://admissions.usma.edu/startyoung.cfm
This gives you guidelines on what you should be doing through you high school years to prepare to apply.
There is also a box in the upper right of that page where you can sign up to be on West Point's mailing list.
- Consider applying to SLS next year. The application opens up in December of your Junior year.
- When the time comes to take your ACT/SAT, prepare well for it. Take a prep class. Buy a book about ACT/SAT. Standardized test scores bear more weight than your GPA.
Take BOTH tests as you may do better on one than the other. Take both tests as many times as you can. West Point superscores ( they take the best score for each subsection every time you take it) so there is no penalty to taking it multiple times.
- Take the hardest classes that you can take and make an 'A' or 'B' in.
- Yes, West Point looks at your Senior grades/activities. The application will probably open up in June after your Junior year (that date fluctuates). You can continually update your file until the application date closes, which is at the end of February of your Senior year.
- West Point looks for well rounded applicants. Prepare academically, but also excel athletically and hone your leadership skills.
Good Luck!